Guidebook for Christchurch
Food Scene
Meshino Cafe
75 Rutland StGreat coffee and good for breakfast, brunch or lunch.
A fabulous and award-winning butcher and deli, which also does takeout lunch food and evening meals, all prepared fresh every day. Highly recommended if you want to pick up a proper home-cooked meal to heat at home....or an excellent cut of meat to cook yourself.
Traiteur European Butchery
209 Papanui RdA fabulous and award-winning butcher and deli, which also does takeout lunch food and evening meals, all prepared fresh every day. Highly recommended if you want to pick up a proper home-cooked meal to heat at home....or an excellent cut of meat to cook yourself.
Very good quality, consistent restaurant. At the pricier end of the scale, but if you want a special dinner out somewhere local then this is a very good option.
20 locals recommend
JDV
190 Aikmans RdVery good quality, consistent restaurant. At the pricier end of the scale, but if you want a special dinner out somewhere local then this is a very good option.
Very popular authentic Italian restaurant, bookings recommended. Also does takeout.
52 locals recommend
Tutto Bene Restaurant & Pizzeria
192 Papanui RdVery popular authentic Italian restaurant, bookings recommended. Also does takeout.
Mexicano's
131 Victoria StGreat Mexican, great atmosphere!
Super great asian-fusion menu, bookings recommended. Also has a separate bar serving tapas and cocktails.
101 locals recommend
King of Snake
79 Victoria StSuper great asian-fusion menu, bookings recommended. Also has a separate bar serving tapas and cocktails.
Saggio Di Vino
179 Victoria StFine dining, a local institution. Recommended.
Drinks & Nightlife
Great for an end of day beer or wine, and a quality but informal restaurant offering.
41 locals recommend
No.4 Bar and Restaurant
4 Mansfield AveGreat for an end of day beer or wine, and a quality but informal restaurant offering.
Popular wine bar, another good option for an afternoon or end of day drink. Also screens live sports for major rugby games
43 locals recommend
Aikmans Restaurant
154 Aikmans RdPopular wine bar, another good option for an afternoon or end of day drink. Also screens live sports for major rugby games
Perfect for pre or post dinner drinks. Intimate venue but suitable for couples or groups.
30 locals recommend
The Dirty Land
131 Victoria StPerfect for pre or post dinner drinks. Intimate venue but suitable for couples or groups.
Neat whisky bar, located upstairs, with live music. Great for pre or post dinner drinks & tapas style menu.
30 locals recommend
Boo Radley's Food & Liquor
98 Victoria StNeat whisky bar, located upstairs, with live music. Great for pre or post dinner drinks & tapas style menu.
Good atmosphere, includes a vegetarian restaurant and offers a good range of bar food.
66 locals recommend
Dux Central
144 Lichfield StGood atmosphere, includes a vegetarian restaurant and offers a good range of bar food.
Love this intimate wine bar - perfect for a pre or post dinner drink, frequently has live (suitable) music, and is great to head into the heart of the CBD and explore from there. Offers tapas and smaller main menu items.
52 locals recommend
O.G.B Bar & Cocktail Bar
28 Cathedral SquareLove this intimate wine bar - perfect for a pre or post dinner drink, frequently has live (suitable) music, and is great to head into the heart of the CBD and explore from there. Offers tapas and smaller main menu items.
Parks & Nature
Expansive botanical gardens, great running trails, Avon river with boat/canoe hire and Canterbury Museum.
252 locals recommend
North Hagley Park
14 Riccarton AveExpansive botanical gardens, great running trails, Avon river with boat/canoe hire and Canterbury Museum.
Drive to Taylors Mistake beach (just beyond Sumner) then walk the popular Godley Heads walkway for stunning ocean, farmland and city views. Allow 1-2 hour return walk from Taylors Mistake carpark. This is also an excellent running trail with undulating hard-packed off road pathways.
43 locals recommend
Godley Head Carpark
Drive to Taylors Mistake beach (just beyond Sumner) then walk the popular Godley Heads walkway for stunning ocean, farmland and city views. Allow 1-2 hour return walk from Taylors Mistake carpark. This is also an excellent running trail with undulating hard-packed off road pathways.
Shopping
A Christchurch institution. Fashion labels, cosmetics, giftware, hosiery & accessories etc
52 locals recommend
Ballantynes
Cashel StreetA Christchurch institution. Fashion labels, cosmetics, giftware, hosiery & accessories etc
A boutique shopping precinct with retailers not found elsewhere in the city. A mixture of fashion, gifts, an art-house cinema and restaurants/bars and cafes. Also a day spa. Set within a restored heritage building.
205 locals recommend
The Tannery
3 Garlands RdA boutique shopping precinct with retailers not found elsewhere in the city. A mixture of fashion, gifts, an art-house cinema and restaurants/bars and cafes. Also a day spa. Set within a restored heritage building.
A nice way to shop in a collection of fashion and giftware retailers, in a series of re-purposed shippping containers setup in outdoor laneways. Also features an extensive food stall market.
77 locals recommend
Container Mall
76-100 Cashel StreetA nice way to shop in a collection of fashion and giftware retailers, in a series of re-purposed shippping containers setup in outdoor laneways. Also features an extensive food stall market.
The main Westfield mall, if you're after a major shopping mall. The largest mall in the South Island.
204 locals recommend
Westfield Riccarton
129 Riccarton RdThe main Westfield mall, if you're after a major shopping mall. The largest mall in the South Island.
Essentials
Drycleaner, stationery store, supermarket, pharmacy, jeweller, fashion retailers, hair & beauty, gifts
35 locals recommend
Merivale Mall
189 Papanui RdDrycleaner, stationery store, supermarket, pharmacy, jeweller, fashion retailers, hair & beauty, gifts
Arts & Culture
Canterbury Museum
66 Rolleston AveChristchurch Art Gallery (Te Puna o Waiwhetu)
312 Montreal St